Placement Testing Information (ESOL)

5. Do Teaching Assistants have to take placement testing?

In accordance with the Ohio Revised Code 3345.281, Bowling Green State University must assess the oral English proficiency of all teaching assistants providing classroom instruction to students and ensure that teaching assistants who are not orally proficient in the English language attain such proficiency prior to providing classroom instruction to students.

Therefore, instead of the interview, you will take the ITA Oral Proficiency Test. We ask that you prepare a 7-10 minute interactive teaching mini-lesson related to your field of study. For this teaching presentation you will need to:

*Explain and illustrate a concept related to your academic field in a 7-10 minute interactive mini-lesson. Please be aware of your time limit as you prepare. You will be stopped after 10 minutes.
*Pretend that you are teaching this concept to a room of undergraduate students who are not familiar with the topic.
*Use any appropriate visual aids for the mini-lesson that you feel are necessary; however, we advise against bringing in computer projectors or other technology which may take too long to set up, or could malfunction, impairing your performance. In the room there will be markers, a whiteboard (or chalkboard and chalk), and an overhead projector to use at your discretion.
*At the end of your mini-lesson, we will allow up to 5 minutes for you to answer questions from the “students” on the panel.

Your oral proficiency will be evaluated by a panel of approximately 2-5 people, who may be evaluators, undergraduate students, or even people from your department. After your test, the ESOL Program will discuss your placement in consultation with your department.